living loved

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 1 John 5:11

I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. John 15:11

What is the “there”? “There” is a place of total joy and peace. “There” is a place where you can laugh at the situation (whatever it may be) and find a peace that is so unexplainable and so undeniably not a typical response that you and those around you can admittedly say, “Only God.” “There” is the place of peace in life’s greatest adversity, tragedy, poverty, and ash heap. “There” is only achievable through the joy that is made full and complete through the Holy Spirit and living His way – not your way and not the world’s way.

But how do we get “there”? I should begin by saying that I am more of a tortoise story. It has taken me many years in my walk with the Lord to get to a place of peace and contentment, which by the way, I still struggle to accept and acknowledge. I still struggle to find peace and joy when I expect my house and my children and my spouse to look like the perfection in front of me through screens, media, and the neighbor down the road. I struggle with my imperfect house in the imperfect neighborhood – my joy lacks completeness when I am focused on my unfinished bathroom and paneled walls. But see, I am incomplete. I am on this beautiful journey toward God’s holy joy that I will only achieve through submission. I, you, we need to wake up every daily and intentionally submit our will to Him. We need to cry out to the Father and ask Him to change and break these hearts for what breaks His. We need to ask Him to change our desires to His desires (thank you, Pastor). Every. Single. Day I need Him. Every. Single. Day I need to ask Him and seek Him. Every. Single. Day. Following Jesus isn’t about harvesting the field in one day; it is about planting seeds and waiting in all the fruits of the Spirit as God changes lives and hearts and keeps all His promises.

How do you get “there”? It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that you are stepping up and stepping out every day with Him as your guide. It just matters that you get ‘”there” – to His peace, joy, and contentment like you’ve never had before – even on your worst of days. I watched Him do it for my momma in cancer. I experienced this joy in my own heart and life when He took her away. And I wait in expectation for Him to do it again for me and for you. You will stumble, and you will fall, but God has you. He will meet you there.

xoxo, Loni